Rooted in Reverence
05–23–23

Chinese Ginseng Root Culinary Experience
With Justin Ng 


Rooted in Reverence explores the intertwined culinary, medicinal, and spiritual histories of ginseng across East Asia and the Far Eastern frontier. Known for its difficult cultivation and miraculous properties, ginseng has been revered as both sacred plant and elite commodity—from Tang dynasty tea culture to contemporary herbal medicine.

Through historical texts, ethnobotanical studies, and regional practices like the Taiga Law, this project traces ginseng’s role in shaping cultural beliefs, social rituals, and ecological knowledge among Manchurian, Korean, Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian communities. By following the root’s journey from forest floor to teacup, the research reveals how ginseng embodies the deep connections between landscape, labor, and reverence.
Category
Landscape Research

©Diana Guo 2025© All works.